AP Physics C exam 2027: Mechanics and E&M, what changes
Both AP Physics C exams, Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism, change their question count and timing in May 2027. The courses themselves stay the same. Here is the new format, the dates and how to adjust your practice.
On this page
The 2027 format, for both exams
AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism are separate exams with the same structure.
| Section | Questions | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| I: Multiple choice | 42 | 85 minutes | 50% |
| II: Free response | 4, one of each type | 95 minutes | 50% |
The four free-response questions are one of each type: mathematical routines, translation between representations, experimental design and analysis, and qualitative/quantitative translation. Both exams are hybrid digital: multiple choice in the Bluebook app, and free-response answers handwritten in a paper booklet. Calculators are allowed, and reference sheets are provided on paper and in Bluebook.
Exam dates in May 2027
| Exam | Date |
|---|---|
| AP Physics C: Mechanics | Monday 3 May 2027, morning |
| AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | Wednesday 5 May 2027, afternoon |
Taking both? The two exams are two days apart, so plan your final review to finish Mechanics first.
What changed from 2025 and 2026
| 2025 and 2026 | From May 2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple-choice questions | 40 | 42 |
| Multiple-choice time | 80 minutes | 85 minutes |
| Free-response time | 100 minutes | 95 minutes |
The course content does not change. College Board's update for 2026-27 adds only minor clarifications to the course description, plus this new exam timing.
What it means for your timing
- Multiple choice: still about 2 minutes a question. Many E&M questions are quick if you spot the symmetry or the limiting case, so bank time on those.
- Free response: about 23 to 24 minutes a question, down from 25. Calculus derivations must be clean and direct: state the law, set up the integral, evaluate, and stop.
Preparing for E&M in 2027
- Calculus fluency first. Gauss's law, potential from a field, and RC and RL circuits all need confident integration and simple differential equations.
- Master the big laws: Gauss's law, Ampère's law, Faraday's law and Lenz's law, with the symmetry arguments that make them usable.
- Use the equation sheet well. See our AP Physics C equation sheet guide for what is on it and when each equation applies.
- Review the whole course with our AP Physics C: E&M review and the Mechanics review.
- Timed practice to the new clock from March, using official past questions.
Common mistakes
- Using the old 100-minute free-response timing in practice, then rushing on the day.
- Skipping the symmetry argument before using Gauss's or Ampère's law: it often carries a point.
- Leaving answers in a form that hides the physics, such as an unsimplified integral, when a clean expression is asked for.
Frequently asked questions
Is AP Physics C changing in 2026-27?
Only the exam format changes: 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes. The content is the same.
When is the AP Physics C: E&M exam in 2027?
Wednesday 5 May 2027, in the afternoon session. Mechanics is on Monday 3 May 2027, in the morning.
Are the two AP Physics C exams the same length?
Yes. Each has 42 multiple-choice questions in 85 minutes and 4 free-response questions in 95 minutes.
Is a calculator allowed?
Yes, on both sections of both exams.
Key takeaways
- Both Physics C exams: 42 multiple choice in 85 minutes, 4 free response in 95 minutes.
- Mechanics on Monday 3 May 2027, E&M on Wednesday 5 May 2027.
- Content unchanged: tighten your free-response timing.
Source: College Board, AP Central exam pages and the Clarifications and Exam Updates for 2026-27, checked 20 October 2026.
Try AP physics c: E&M practice, marked as you go, with hints and step-by-step solutions.